finds that there is a fall of pressure throughout the administration
of chloroform, and but little alteration of the blood pressure
during the administration of ether. It may cause a slight rise, or
it may cause a slight fall, but changes in pressure with ether are
not marked. When there is slight surgical shock present, as from
some injury, they found that chloroform would lower the pressure
considerably. Hence it would seem that chloroform should not be used
as an anesthetic after serious injuries.


THE EFFECT OF DRUGS ON VENOUS BLOOD PRESSURE

Capps and Matthews [Footnote: Capps, J. A., and Matthews, S. A.:
Venous Blood Pressure as influenced by the Drugs Employed in
Cardiovascular Therapy, THE JOURNAL A. M. A., Aug. 9, 1913, p. 388.]
have shown that even with first class preparations of digitalis,
there may be only a moderate gradual rise in arterial pressure, but
not much change in venous pressure. Venous pressure was not much
affected by small doses of epinephrin, but with large doses it rose
from 10 to 80 mm. Pituitary extract acts somewhat similarly to
epinephrin. Caffein, though raising the arterial pressure, did not
influence the venous pressure. Strychnin did not raise either
pressure until the dose was sufficient to cause muscular
contractions. They found that the nitrites caused a fall in venous
pressure as well as arterial pressure, although the heart might be
accelerated and more regular. They think that the nitrites act by
depressing the nerve endings in the veins as well as the arteries.
Morphin they found did not act on the venous pressure, although it
lowered arterial tension, in ordinary doses of 1/8 or 1/6 grain; but
with doses of from 1/4 to 1/2 grain, both arterial and venous